Feb. 12, 2012
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AMES, Iowa — The University of Iowa wrestling team advanced to the final four of the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals with a pair of victories over No. 23 Virginia Tech and No. 16 Oregon State today inside Hilton Coliseum. Iowa topped the Hokies 31-3 in the semifinals before earning a 22-14 win over the Beavers in the regional finals.
Seniors Montell Marion and Vinnie Wagner each scored key victories for Iowa in the finals.
Marion upset fourth-ranked Mike Mangrum 6-4 in overtime to help Iowa build an 11-0 team lead. Marion, rated No. 6 at 141, trailed 4-3 entering the third period before scoring an escape to tie the frame. He then finished a high crotch to score a takedown with 23 seconds left in sudden victory to secure the 6-4 win.
Wagner clinched the regional title with a third period rally at 184. He trailed 5-3 early in the third frame before scoring a pair of takedowns and riding out the Hokie to finish a 7-6 decision and extend the team lead to 22-7.
Sophomores Tony Ramos and Ethen Lofthouse contributed to regional title with a pair of technical falls in the finals. Ramos, ranked No. 4 at 133, scored three nearfall points as time expired to notch a 24-8 win. Lofthouse used 2:51 of riding time and scored a takedown with one second left to finish his 174-pound bout with a 21-6 victory.
Junior Matt McDonough and redshirt freshman Mike Evans also scored victories for Iowa in regional final.
Iowa (13-3) advanced to the finals with a 31-3 win over No. 24 Virginia Tech. The Hawkeyes scored the first 19 takedowns of the match and finished with a 24-7 takedown advantage.
Ramos, Marion and Evans all defeated ranked opponents. Ramos scored a 3-2 win over top-ranked Devin Carter at 133 to avenge one of his two losses this season. He recorded a second period takedown and opened the third period with an escape to earn the win.
Evans and Marion each earned major decisions against their ranked opponents. The ninth-ranked Evans picked up a takedown and two nearfall points in the first period against seventh-ranked Pete Yates. He added a takedown in the final minute of the match and didn’t allow a point to Yates en route to a 9-0 victory.
Marion scored three takedowns and picked up three nearfall points in his 13-2 win over No. 20 Zach Neibert. McDonough and Lofthouse also earned major decisions for Iowa. McDonough scored six takedowns in a 16-5 win and Lofthouse scored five takedowns in a 13-3 win.
The Hawkeyes will wrestle for the dual championships Sunday, Feb. 19 at a site to be determined. The NWCA will announce the final site Monday, Feb. 13.
NOTES: Attendance was 1,826… The Hawkeyes were 4-4 against ranked opponents.
FINALS
#5 Iowa Hawkeyes 22, #16 Oregon State 14
125 – Matt McDonough (Iowa) dec. Pat Rollins (OSU), 7-2; TS 3-0
133 – Tony Ramos (Iowa) tech. fall James Roberts (OSU), 24-8; TS 8-0
141 – Montell Marion (Iowa) dec. Mike Mangrum (OSU), 6-4 (OT); TS 11-0
149 -Scott Sakaguchi (OSU) dec. Michael Kelly (Iowa), 8-3; TS 11-3
157 -RJ Pena (OSU) major dec. Derek St. John (Iowa), 9-1: TS 11-7
165 – Mike Evans (Iowa) dec. Joe Latham (OSU), 4-0; TS 14-7
174 – Ethen Lofthouse (Iowa) tech. fall John Tuck (OSU), 21-6; TS 19-7
184 – Vinnie Wagner (Iowa) dec. Ty Vinson (OSU), 7-6; TS 22-7
197 -Taylor Meeks (OSU) major dec. Tomas Lira (Iowa), 14-3; TS 22-11
285 -Clayton Jack (OSU) dec. Bobby Telford (Iowa), 5-3; TS 22-14
SEMIFINALS
#5 Iowa Hawkeyes 31, #23 Virginia Tech 3
125 – Matt McDonough (Iowa) major dec. Erik Spjut (VT), 16-5; TS 4-0
133 – Tony Ramos (Iowa) dec. Devin Carter (VT), 3-2; TS 7-0
141 – Montell Marion (Iowa) major dec. Zach Neibert (VT), 13-2; 11-0
149 – Michael Kelly (Iowa) dec. Nick Brascetta (VT), 2-1; TS 14-0
157 – Nick Moore (Iowa) dec. Matt Stephens (VT), 5-2; TS 17-0
165 – Mike Evans (Iowa) major dec. Pet Yates (VT), 9-0; TS 21-0
174 – Ethen Lofthouse (Iowa) major dec. Chris Moon (VT), 13-3; TS 25-0
184 – Vinnie Wagner (Iowa) dec. John Dickson (VT), 9-2; TS 28-0
197 – Nick Vetterlein (VT) dec. Tomas Lira (Iowa), 11-7; TS 28-3
285 – Bobby Telford (Iowa) dec. Chris Penny (VT), 4-2; TS 31-3
REGIONAL RESULTS (regional seeds)
QUARTERFINALS
#4 Virginia Tech 20, #5 Northern Iowa 17
#3 Iowa State 36, #6 Wisconsin 3
SEMIFINALS
#1 IOWA 31, #4 Virginia Tech 3
#2 Oregon State 27, #3 Iowa State 12
FINALS
#1 IOWA 22, #2 Oregon State 14